Advocates, architects and building officials urged the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to advance bills (H.324 and S.254) that would create a licensed registration for commercial interior designers in Massachusetts.

Supporters said the proposal would define the profession's scope, align language with existing architectural licensing statutes and preserve public-safety limits that keep architecture and engineering work with structural or primary building systems under those licensed professions.

Amanda Vigneault, director and certified interior designer at Shepley Bulfinch and vice president of advocacy for IIDA New England, told the committee the bill "would create a licensure path for interior design professionals to be recognized as registered commercial interior designers" and would allow those who "demonstrate a depth of education and experience and also pass our nationally accredited exam, the NCIDQ" to practice at capacities the commonwealth currently does not permit.

The bill would establish a new board for registration, supporters said, and explicitly would not prevent decorators, architects or engineers from practicing as they do today. "Registered commercial interior designers may not practice architecture or engineering nor may they alter structural life-safety or primary building systems," John Nunnery, executive director of AIA Massachusetts, told the committee, adding that AIA, the American Council of Engineering Companies in Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Federation of Building Officials now support a redrafted bill.

Architect Matthew Hyatt, who testified as both a registered architect and owner of a blended practice, described practical effects for firms: "This legislation would allow registered interior designers to also count toward that majority," he said, referring to the state procurement rule that currently counts only registered architects and engineers when determining majority ownership for firms that bid on certain state projects. Hyatt said that change would remove a barrier to firm ownership for interior designers and increase firms' capacity to lead projects through permitting and construction.

University faculty and students also testified about workforce and educational pipelines. Stephanie Maboldrick, assistant professor of interior design at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, said her accredited program graduates about 20 students a year and that some graduates move to states that formally recognize interior-design licensure. Adelike Eyowa, a recent Suffolk University master's graduate, said licensure provides "a sense of pride and legitimacy" and helps retain talent.

Testimony included repeated requests that proponents supply additional written information. Representative Vitolo asked for data on whether increasing recognized ownership by registered interior designers would expand opportunities for women- and minority-owned firms; witnesses pointed to recent state contracting and diversity discussions and documents but did not provide a numeric breakdown at the hearing.

No formal committee action on the bills was taken during the hearing.

Supporters asked the committee to advance the bills to give commercial interior designers a defined regulatory role, to clarify who may perform what work on building interiors, and to reduce business and permitting barriers that proponents say have driven some practitioners to register in neighboring states.

Background: Witnesses said five Massachusetts institutions currently hold Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA/CET A) accreditation (UMass Dartmouth, Wentworth, Boston Architectural College, Endicott, and Suffolk University) and that the NCIDQ exam is the commonly accepted national credential referenced by the bill.

Next steps: Proponents agreed to provide follow-up written materials at the committee's request; no vote or formal report was recorded at the hearing.